Hour-By-Hour Forecast Of Nor'easter Snow, 60-MPH Wind In CT Saturday

CONNECTICUT — A "wicked" snowstorm is hours away from blanketing parts of Connecticut beneath up to 18 inches of snow, but state emergency services crews are ready for it.

That was the message from Gov. Ned Lamont Friday afternoon outside the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s maintenance garage in Wethersfield, just as the first snowflakes of the storm had begun to fall.

Mass transit services have already declared they will have limited or no service on Saturday. MetroNorth will run limited service, buses will be shut down and AMTRAK will suspend service following the last train Friday night.

"A lot of this is going to be wetter snow, especially in southwest Connecticut and along the coast," Lamont predicted.

As of 6 a.m. Saturday, no tractor trailers will be allowed on the road in Connecticut and neighboring states, according to Lamont. The state's Emergency Operations Center, normally the command hub during extreme weather events, will be open on a limited basis Saturday

A determination whether to forbid car travel will be made as the storm progresses, state highway officials said during the news conference. The Connecticut Department of Transportation will be fielding over 600 trucks carrying over 100,000 tons of salt, manned by 700 employees assisted by additional contractors. All the state police barracks will be fully staffed.

"I'd like to think we are as ready as can be," Lamont said.

A blizzard warning is in effect for New London County and a winter storm warning is in effect for the remainder of the state.

Here are the latest weather statements from the National Weather Service

Fairfield County

Total snow accumulations of 7 to 10 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. Near blizzard conditions are possible for a period on Saturday.

New Haven/Middlesex County

Total snow accumulations of 9 to 12 inches. Winds gusting as high as 45 mph. Near blizzard conditions are possible for a period on Saturday.

New London County

Total snow accumulations of 13 to 17 inches. Winds gusting as high as 60 mph. Blizzard conditions are expected Saturday morning into early Saturday afternoon. White out conditions are likely at times.

Hartford/Tolland/Windham County

Total snow accumulations of 7 to 18 inches. Winds gusting as high as 50 mph. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour is possible at times.

Litchfield County

Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 10 inches. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will lead to blowing and drifting snow.

Hour-by-hour snow forecast by county via the National Weather Service

Fairfield County

• 10 p.m.: 68 percent chance of snow; 8 mph wind
• 1 a.m.: 95 percent chance of snow; 14 mph wind
• 4 a.m.: 100 percent chance of snow; 28 mph wind gusts
• 7 a.m.: 90 percent chance of snow; 33 mph wind gusts
• 10 a.m.: 90 percent chance of snow; 36 mph wind gusts
• 1 p.m.: 70 percent chance of snow; 37 mph wind gusts
• 4 p.m.: 49 percent chance of snow; 37 mph wind gusts
• 7 p.m.: 40 percent chance of snow; 38 mph wind gusts

Snow begins after 10 p.m. and tapers off around 4 p.m. Saturday. A total of 9.8 inches of snow is expected.

New Haven County

• 10 p.m.: 68 percent chance of snow; 8 mph wind
• 1 a.m.: 92 percent chance of snow; 15 mph wind
• 4 a.m.: 99 percent chance of snow; 28 mph wind gusts
• 7 a.m.: 92 percent chance of snow; 33 mph wind gusts
• 10 a.m.: 90 percent chance of snow; 36 mph wind gusts
• 1 p.m.: 80 percent chance of snow; 37 mph wind gusts
• 4 p.m.: 56 percent chance of snow; 36 mph wind gusts
• 7 p.m.: 50 percent chance of snow; 36 mph wind gusts

Snow begins after 10 p.m. and tapers off around 5 p.m. Saturday. A total of 11 inches of snow is expected.

Middlesex County

• 10 p.m.: 66 percent chance of snow; 6 mph wind
• 1 a.m.: 80 percent chance of snow; 13 mph wind
• 4 a.m.: 92 percent chance of snow; 14 mph wind
• 7 a.m.: 96 percent chance of snow; 31 mph wind gusts
• 10 a.m.: 93 percent chance of snow; 34 mph wind gusts
• 1 p.m.: 86 percent chance of snow; 37 mph wind gusts
• 4 p.m.: 60 percent chance of snow; 36 mph wind gusts
• 7 p.m.: 59 percent chance of snow; 33 mph wind gusts

Snow begins after 10 p.m. and tapers off around 7 p.m. Saturday. A total of 11.3 inches of snow is expected.

New London County

• 10 p.m.: 77 percent chance of snow; 8 mph
• 1 a.m.: 89 percent chance of snow; 16 mph
• 4 a.m.: 100 percent chance of snow; 36 mph wind gusts
• 7 a.m.: 100 percent chance of snow; 41 mph wind gusts
• 10 a.m.: 100 percent chance of snow; 45 mph wind gusts
• 1 p.m.: 92 percent chance of snow; 43 mph wind gusts
• 4 p.m.: 76 percent chance of snow; 40 mph wind gusts
• 7 p.m.: 65 percent chance of snow; 37 mph wind gusts

Snow begins after 10 p.m. and tapers off around 8 p.m. Saturday. A total of 15.2 inches of snow is expected.

Hartford County

• 10 p.m.: 67 percent chance of snow; 8 mph wind
• 1 a.m.: 75 percent chance of snow; 13 mph wind
• 4 a.m.: 86 percent chance of snow; 16 mph wind
• 7 a.m.: 83 percent chance of snow; 29 mph wind gusts
• 10 a.m.: 83 percent chance of snow; 38 mph wind gusts
• 1 p.m.: 80 percent chance of snow; 43 mph wind gusts
• 4 p.m.: 66 percent chance of snow; 37 mph wind gusts
• 7 p.m.: 37 percent chance of snow; 30 mph wind gusts

Snow begins after 10 p.m. and tapers off around 5 p.m. Saturday. A total of 10 inches of snow is expected.

Tolland County

• 9 p.m.: 36 percent chance of snow; 7 mph wind
• midnight: 77 percent chance of snow; 10 mph wind
• 3 a.m.: 89 percent chance of snow; 14 mph wind
• 6 a.m.: 86 percent chance of snow; 17 mph wind
• 9 a.m.: 87 percent chance of snow; 33 mph wind gusts
• noon: 83 percent chance of snow; 40 mph wind gusts
• 3 p.m.: 76 percent chance of snow; 41 mph wind gusts
• 6 p.m.: 62 percent chance of snow; 38 mph wind gusts

Snow begins after 10 p.m. and tapers off around 5 p.m. Saturday. A total of 12.6 inches of snow is expected.

Windham County

• 10 p.m.: 67 percent chance of snow; 8 mph wind
• 1 a.m.: 80 percent chance of snow; 13 mph wind
• 4 a.m.: 85 percent chance of snow; 17 mph wind
• 7 a.m.: 88 percent chance of snow; 32 mph wind gusts
• 10 a.m.: 83 percent chance of snow; 40 mph wind gusts
• 1 p.m.: 82 percent chance of snow; 45 mph wind gusts
• 4 p.m.: 77 percent chance of snow; 36 mph wind gusts
• 7 p.m.: 45 percent chance of snow; 33 mph wind gusts

Snow begins after 10 p.m. and tapers off around 7 p.m. Saturday. A total of 13.4 inches of snow is expected.

Litchfield County

• 10 p.m.: 64 percent chance of snow; 3 mph wind
• 1 a.m.: 87 percent chance of snow; 6 mph wind
• 4 a.m.: 89 percent chance of snow; 21 mph wind gusts
• 7 a.m.: 86 percent chance of snow; 28 mph wind gusts
• 10 a.m.: 84 percent chance of snow; 31 mph wind gusts
• 1 p.m.: 69 percent chance of snow; 32 mph wind gusts
• 4 p.m.: 51 percent chance of snow; 37 mph wind gusts
• 7 p.m.: 33 percent chance of snow; 34 mph wind gusts

Snow begins after 10 p.m. and tapers off around 5 p.m. Saturday. A total of 7.6 inches of snow is expected.